Taking In Another Nats Game

Taken from Section 315. The Nats are playing the Marlins and ahead in the first inning! Go Nats!!

Update:  The Nats played a good game, but ended up losing 4-2.

Follow My Blog and Win a Prize... Maybe

In a blatant attempt to get more Followers, I've started giving away bribes... I mean prizes. This month, I will randomly select one of the people officially "Following" my blog as a "Follower" to win a "valuable" prize.  The prize is a Running With Blue Sponge T-Shirt.  The prize drawing will occur on the last day of the month.  I'll alert the winner that his or her dream has finally come true.  This stunt might have something to do with my New Year's Resolution of increasing my number of Followers.  It would be nice to actually accomplish one of those things.

*Note:  If you are already a Follower you are already entered.  You just have to Follow once and you are entered for this and all future giveaways.  Good Luck!

Why We Feared Russians During the Cold War

You may remember I posted the video of the Russian singer a few months back (check it out here).  Well, I saw on a new blog, Mikes's Short Attention Span Theater, the story behind that video and a re-edit  that is even funnier than the original. Genius!

EW's 20 Most Shocking TV Deaths List Incomplete

I love a good list and Entertainment Weekly's list of the 20  Most Shocking TV Deaths has some good ones (Adriana, played by Drea de Matteo, from The Sopranos was one of the best) and some lame ones (Kenny from South Park, really?). 

However, a major omission from their list was one of the most shocking deaths of a major TV character I can remember.  Lt. Col. Henry Blake, played by McLean Stevenson, died offscreen at the end of the third season of MASH.  Stevenson asked to be released from his contract.  The show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 1974-75 season, in which Lt. Col. Blake was discharged, only to board a plane that was shot down over the Sea of Japan, killing everyone on board (a development added after scripts were distributed so the show's actors would display genuine emotion as if they had been truly unaware of that part of the storyline).

It was quite a shocker, because they just didn't kill off major characters in TV shows back in the 1970s and nobody had any idea it was going to happen.  How could EW leave that out?

Click here to see the (in)complete list.

5 on the Fifth -- My Journey Home from Work

This is an idea from State of the Nation UK -- taking five photos around the fifth of the month and share them with the world.  The theme this time around was a Journey, so I did a photo essay of my commute home from work.  These were all taken on May 4, 2010.  My commute is about 25 minutes, door to door, depending on how long I have to wait for trains.

Outside the Pentagon City Metro (subway) Station,

which is across the street from where I work.

Here comes my train.

Crossing the Potomac River on the DC 

Metro with a view of another bridge.  

Outside of Eastern Market Metro, 

about 2 blocks from my home.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

Use of Tazer on Phillies Fan Shocking

Though this AP photo is an amazing shot, there is no reason police should be using tazers to apprehend a kid running around a baseball field.  He was not a threat to anyone.  The ending of the movie Fever Pitch would of been quite different in Philadelphia.  In that film, Drew Barrymore runs across Fenway Park to get to Jimmy Fallon, to prevent him from selling his valuable season tickets and they then have a romantic moment before her arrest.  She would have just been twitching in center field had it happened in Philly. 

Tony Award Nominations Announced Today

Fela! and revivial of La Cage aux Folles got the most nominations this year with 11 each.  The revivial of the play, Fences, was next with 10 nominations.  Here are the major Tony Award Nominations announced today:

Best Play
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Next Fall
Red
Time Stands Still

Best Musical
American Idiot
Fela!
Memphis
Million Dollar Quartet

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Addams Family
Enron
Fences
Memphis

Best Revival of a Play
Fences
Lend Me a Tenor
The Royal Family
A View from the Bridge

Best Revival of a Musical
Finian's Rainbow
La Cage aux Folles
A Little Night Music
Ragtime

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jude Law in Hamlet
Alfred Molina in Red
Liev Schreiber in A View from the Bridge
Christopher Walken in A Behanding in Spokane
Denzel Washington in Fences

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Viola Davis in Fences
Valerie Harper in Looped
Linda Lavin in Collected Stories
Laura Linney in Time Stands Still
Jan Maxwell in The Royal Family

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Kelsey Grammer in La Cage aux Folles
Sean Hayes in Promises, Promises
Douglas Hodge in La Cage aux Folles
Chad Kimball in Memphis
Sahr Ngaujah in Fela!

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin in Finian's Rainbow
Sherie Rene Scott in Everyday Rapture
Montego Glover in Memphis
Christiane Noll in Ragtime
Catherine Zeta-Jones in A Little Night Music

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
David Alan Grier in Race
Stephen McKinley Henderson in Fences
Jon Michael Hill in Superior Donuts
Stephen Kunken in Enron
Eddie Redmayne in Red

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia in In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Rosemary Harris in The Royal Family
Jessica Hecht in A View from the Bridge
Scarlett Johansson in A View from the Bridge
Jan Maxwell in Lend Me a Tenor

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Chamberlin in The Addams Family
Robin De Jesús in La Cage aux Folles
Christopher Fitzgerald in Finian's Rainbow
Levi Kreis in Million Dollar Quartet
Bobby Steggert in Ragtime

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Barbara Cook in Sondheim on Sondheim
Katie Finneran in Promises, Promises
Angela Lansbury in A Little Night Music
Karine Plantadit in Come Fly Away
Lillias White in Fela!

Click here for the complete list of nominations.

Pass On the Salt -- Wisdom for Your Brain

I thought I would start providing some tips on improving your (and my) health.  John Tesh has a syndicated radio show where he provides "Intelligence for Your Life."  So here is my version I call, "Wisdom for Your Brain." 

The first one is about sodium. As someone who has had heart disease galore in their family tree, salt is something I should think about as I get older. 

Generally, 1.5 teaspoons of salt a day is sufficient to obtain the recommended 3,000 milligrams of sodium. However, the average American ingests two to four times that much each day. Too much salt in the diet causes extra water to be drawn into the blood vessels. This increases the pressure on the artery walls, causing high blood pressure.

According to today's Express newspaper, extra salt can be hiding in foods you may not think would have much salt.  Salt solutions are pumped into chicken parts to plump them up.  That can add 60 mg of sodium to one chicken breast.  Also, there is lots of sodium in some breakfast cereals.  A big bowl of corn flakes (2 cups) has 532 mg sodium. 

Another surprise for me was cottage cheese.  It has 918 mg of sodium per cup!  Now I'm glad I don't like the stuff. 

If you eat a lot of frozen dinners, they are usually jammed full of sodium.  Check labels and watch to see if the foods you eat are loaded with extra salt.  Also, add salt to your food sparingly.  Use more pepper or try other non-sodium seasonings that flavor foods that won't kill you in the long run (or make this one).

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #239

I don't care if you're bored Mr. Flynt.  Please keep

both hands above the water line at all times.

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #239. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

Happy 12th Anniversary To Us

Today is our 12th Anniversary and this song is one of Shane's favorites (and coincidentally, the 12th year is the Soul Train anniversary). I am often out of my head over you Shane! Love you. We're flying home from Florida to DC today and plan on going out to dinner to celebrate tonight.

Blogging from the Beach

Shane and I are back in Florida and spending this afternoon at Blind
Pass Beach, located at Englewood. The weather is perfect and the Gulf
water is clear and not too cold. I even went for a swim shortly after
this picture was taken. I figure I better enjoy the clean water while
I can--before the giant oil slick hits SW Florida.

Yesterday, we had to spend time getting permits so we could replace
the exterior doors on our house. We also finally got a tv. Since
we're not here that often, we aren't getting cable. However, I got an
Over-the-Air antenna and was amazed at the HD reception I got for the
broadcast stations with digital tv. Gotta love getting free tv,
except for the commercials.

DC Metro Jerk of the Week

This "winner" must have paid for three fares on DC's Metro subway system, because he is taking up three seats on a crowded car. He was sleeping like a baby while the handicapped and old people were forced to stand. He wins the prize for DC Metro Jerk of the Week. The prize is public humiliation.

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #238

First he invents the wheel... then fire... Now he's just showing off.

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #238. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

Our Front Garden

Last weekend, we fixed up our garden in front of our house.  I should have taken some "before" pictures, because the difference is considerable.  It is always a risk to plant flowers prior to Mother's Day, since we have had flowers stolen out of our garden and we believe they ended up being someone's gift to their Mom.  Anyway, we decided to risk it again.

*I took these with my iPhone, so they aren't the best quality.  You can do the double clicky thing to make the pictures a bit bigger.

Virtual Run from DC to FL--Update #14

This is another update on my progress doing a virtual run from our home in DC to our new vacation home in Punta Gorda, Fl. It is a distance of about 1,003 miles.  


Today, I ran about 10 miles--from my house, down to the National Mall (past the National Earth Day Concert), down to the Lincoln Memorial, over to Georgetown, across the bridge to Rosslyn, down the Potomac to the 14th Street Bridge, over the bridge to the Jefferson Memorial, back up to the Mall and back home. The total distance is more than 11.5 miles, but I got pooped and walked the last mile and a half. I only count running time.

Total Distance Run This Week: 20 miles

Total Distance Run in 2010: 327.5 miles

Total Run Time: 45 hours 15 minutes

My Virtual Distance to Punta Gorda: 675.5 miles

PUSH UPS

Goal for the year: 10,000

Total Push Ups This Week: 140

Total Push Ups in 2010: 2,401

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #237

It's a wonderful talent, but you really should see a doctor.

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #237. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

Do I Smell Fish?

Just in case you were wonder, according to the Web site, http://www.abevigoda.com/, TV star Abe Vigoda is, as of this writing, still alive.  Mr. Vigoda played the character "Fish" on the 1970s sitcom, Barney Miller.  He seemed close to death at the time that show was filmed, but here it is 2010 and he is apparently still living.  God bless medical science. 

The Abe Vigoda Web site advises that you refresh the page to get Mr. Vigoda's latest status.  The site also features a link to the the song, Abe Vigoda's Dead (The Premortem Mix).

Virtual Run from DC to FL--Update #13

This is another update on my progress doing a virtual run from our home in DC to our new vacation home in Punta Gorda, Fl. It is a distance of about 1,003 miles. It has been 3 weeks since my last update.

Total Distance Run Week 1: 15 miles

Total Distance Run Week 2: 24 miles

Total Distance Run Week 3: 19.5 miles

Total Distance Run in 2010: 307.5 miles

Total Run Time: 42 hours 11 minutes

My Virtual Distance to Punta Gorda: 695.5 miles

PUSH UPS

Goal for the year: 10,000

Total Push Ups Week 1: 120

Total Push Ups Week 2: 145

Total Push Ups Week 3: 170

Total Push Ups in 2010: 2,261

Taking In a Nats Game

Shane and I watched the Washington Nationals take on the Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park Friday Night. It was not the best weather for a baseball game. It sprinkled on and off for most of the game with rain coming down fairly hard a few times. We had our trusty umbrellas though, and it never got so bad that they delayed the game. It was a really good game. The lead went back and forth several times, but the Nats pulled off a miracle in the bottom of the 8th inning and won 5 to 3. We had a great time!

Sneezing Baby Panda -- Try Not to Laugh

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #236

If you goo goo gajoob once more, I'm outta here!

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #236. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

Looking Out Shane's Hotel Window in Norman, OK

Running the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler

I ran the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler this morning.  It was a beautiful morning to run, although most of the cherry blossoms are history.  The weather was perfect--sunny and temps in the low 60s.   I ran the race as hard as I could, since I was determined to break 80 minutes.

My clock time was 83 minutes and 48 seconds, but my net time (time from start to finish line) was 79 minutes and 35 seconds!!!  That is a sub-8 minute mile (7:58 average) for a 10 mile race.  If I could do that for a marathon, I'd qualify to run the Boston Marathon.  There is no way I could now run that pace for 16.2 more miles.  I was dying at the end today.

The best thing about running these races is beating much younger and much more fit looking men.  Of the 6,881 men that finished the race, I came in 1,945th.  I was 174th (out of 628) in my age category (Men aged 45-49).  I love looking at the results and seeing men half my age in my dust.

Of course, the opposite is also true.  For instance, the man that won the 70-74 age division, who is 70 years old, beat me by more than 8 minutes.  And there were a large number of ladies that trounced my time also.  However, I choose to focus on the men younger than myself that I beat.

Check back in a few days for photos.

Hurricane Threat to Our New House Increased

We recently closed on a house in Punta Gorda, FL, which is located on the Gulf Coast.  The house we purchased was damaged by Hurricane Charley in 2004, and today the Colorado State University hurricane forecasting team predicted an above-average eight storms, four of them major, for the 2010 hurricane season.  It would be just our luck to work like dogs to fix up this cute little house and then have a Category 5 roll on in.   Luckily, we have insurance.

5 on the Fifth--Cherry Blossoms

This is an idea from State of the Nation UK -- taking five photos on the fifth of the month and share them with the world.  The theme this time around was Spring, so what better subject to depict Springtime in Washington DC than the world-famous Japanese cherry blossoms. So here they are!

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #235

Alls I remember is that the Perp started in 5th position

and then did an amazing grand jeté.

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #235. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

The End of Eating No Sweets -- Praise Jeebus

I am so happy it is finally Easter. I did not eat sweets for Lent. It was not a religious thing, I just wanted to basically see if I could actually give up sweets. I ate no candy, donuts, ice cream, soda, or anything that could be considered a sweet. I missed them terribly. I lost about 5 pounds, in the 46 days of Lent, but I am very happy it is over.

I woke up this morning at about 1:30 because I had to go to the bathroom, but after checking the time, I ate my first piece of chocolate I had in weeks, which I had placed on my nightstand. Upon returning to bed, I also devoured a handful of jelly beans. I fell asleep again with a slight sugar buzz.

Today, I have been eating quite a bit of candy and junk... Donut holes, Twizzlers, chocolate bunnies, soda, cake, etc. I'm a little nauseous at the moment. Where's the ice cream?

Stars "Give A Damn!" About Hate Crimes

From Joe. My. God.'s Blog:

True Blood star Anna Paquin comes out as bisexual in this star-studded plea against hate crimes created by Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund. The campaign's website, We Give A Damn, is down at the moment, doubtlessly due to gossip sites freaking out over Paquin's unanticipated revelation.

So What, Who Cares?

Shane immitated the guy from Saturday Night Live (Fred Armisen) who immitates Joy Behar and had us both giggling like school girls last night. This clip shows the real thing and the immitator.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #234

So you think it's my fault because I named you Anna Rexia!

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #234. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

Virtual Run from DC to Punta Gorda--Update #12

This is another update on my progress doing a virtual run from our home in DC to our new vacation home in Punta Gorda, Fl. It is a distance of about 1,003 miles.

I have been having problems with my neck. I have an appointment with an acupuncturist tomorrow. I've never gone to an acupuncturist before, but it should be interesting.

Total Distance Run This Week: 20.5 miles

Total Distance Run in 2010: 249 miles

Total Run Time: 34 hours 20 minutes

My Virtual Distance to Punta Gorda: 754 miles

PUSH UPS

Goal for the year: 10,000

Total Push Ups this Week: 150

Total Push Ups in 2010: 1,826

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #233

Looky Sonny, you have to shift your dadburn paradiagm.

The above cartoon is the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #233. Let me know if you come up with any captions too. Click on the link above to enter.

Not Sure What This Is, But I Want Some

Virtual Run from DC to Punta Gorda #11

This is another update on my progress doing a virtual run from our home in DC to our new vacation home in Punta Gorda, Fl. It is a distance of about 1,003 miles.

Last week, we were in Florida after finally closing our our new house. We were busy cleaning, shopping, and fixing up our new house. Therefore, I took a break from running and push ups.

Total Distance Run Last Week: 17 miles
Total Distance Run This Week: 0 miles

Total Distance Run in 2010: 228.5 miles

Total Run Time: 31 hours 6 minutes 55 seconds

My Virtual Distance to Punta Gorda: 774.5 miles

PUSH UPS

Goal for the year: 10,000

Total Push Ups for these 2 Week: 120

Total Push Ups in 2010: 1,676

The Welcome Wagon Arrives

One of our Florida neighbors stopped by this evening with a beautiful
home-baked bread, which she gave us to welcome us to the
neighborhood. She was very nice. We met her husband earlier in the
week as he was walking their Scottie, Minnie. We are happy to find
some friendly faces in neighborhood.

Crowded at the Beach

This is apparently the first good beach day in weeks in Florida, so
EVERYBODY came to the beach. I can't blame them.

Finally at the Beach

This is our last full day in Florida and we're taking a break from
fixing up the new house and are having a beach day. It has been very
cool, but is warmer and very sunny today!

Tennis On Charlotte Harbor

Shane and I played tennis today at this public court in a park on
Charlotte Harbor. It is such a beautiful set of courts on the water.
It was a bit windy, but we had a great time. We're loving Punta
Gorda! Oh yeah, I won, but it was super close. Shane had a set
point, but I managed a comeback.

Hump Day Art--Kerne Erickson

We are considering buying a reproduction of the classis Pan Am poster of Havana by Kerne Erickson from the 1930s. We saw a very large version of it in an art store on a recent trip to Key West and loved it, but I love all the classic Pan Am posters.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #232

At least the Bush State Dinners had a little class.

Dinner at River City Grill

Shane and I took a break from fixing up our new house and went out to
dinner at the River City Grill in Punta Gorda, FL. It was wonderful.
I had the Phylo Salmon (pictured) and Shane had a New York Strip Steak
with Mashed Potatoes. Next time I'm getting the potatoes instead of
the rice. They were yummy! It all was really good though.

Sun Setting Behind Our New House

We've been working hard getting our new house in Punta Gorda, FL, set
up. It was a forclosure, so it was a mess. Not only was it filthy,
but there are lots if repairs to get done. Luckily, Shane's step dad
has been there to help us. Thanks Jerry! We have also already bought
a sofa and our beds are being delivered tomorrow. We love this
house! It was worth all the trouble. Look at that view!

Florida House Update--The Drama Ends

The house is ours!!! We found out at 5:15 today (finally) that the
seller provided the HUD statement and so we get the keys. It is such
an amazing relief. It is almost 5:30 now and we are halfway through
South Carolia, but very happy now.

Sent from Mark's iPhone.
www.runningwithbluesponge.com

Virtual Run Update

On our drive to Florida, I took a picture at approximately the place
along I-95 I would be on my virtual run from DC to our house in Punta
Gorda, FL. The distance it has taken me 2 and a half months to run--
about 220 miles--we drove in 3 hours. I wish I could Photoshop a
picture of me running here (with a blue sponge), but don't know how to
do that on my iPhone.

Florida House Update--Almost Closed

It is just after 11am and we've signed and Fed Exed the papers to
close on the house in Punta Gorda (see previous post). The only thing
we're waiting on is for the seller to sign the HUD statement. Once
our title company receives that, Shane's mom can get the keys. There
always has to be some drama. We're hoping the HUD comes through today
or we can't get in the house until al least Monday. Right now, we're
in the car driving in the rain south to Florida. We should get down
there tomorrow afternoon--about a 16 hour drive. Hopefully, we can go
in our house when we get there.

Sent from Mark's iPhone.
www.runningwithbluesponge.com

Florida House News--I Don't Want to Jinx This, But

We are all set to close on the house we're buying in Punta Gorda, FL, tomorrow! This has been the most stressful 2 weeks we've ever gone through. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong with this house, but there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Barring another unforeseen problem, we will own the house starting tomorrow. It is hard to believe that it might actually happen. We have to sign the documents and overnight them back to Florida tomorrow morning. Once they get confirmation they are sent, Shane's mom can get the key. We begin driving down right after we send the papers back and should arrive sometime on Saturday and we're spending the week in Florida. I'll do more updates from my iPhone with any news when there is news.